Orthoptic apparatus



March 13, 1951 T. J. ARNESON, JR 2,545,333

ORTHOPTIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1946 FIG.

THEODORE J. ARNESON JR.

March 13, 1951 T. J. ARNESON,"JR 2,

ORTHOPTIC APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 THEODORE J. ARNESON Ja Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORTHOPTIC APPARATUS Theodore J. Arneson, J r., Minneapolis, Minn.

Application April 22, 1946, Serial N0. 663,768

17 Claims. (Cl. 128--76.5)

My invention relates to orthoptic apparatus and particularly apparatus used for orthoptic diagnosis and treatment.

An object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus having a rotatable plate with a chart thereon and which is adapted to be viewed by the patient through suitable lenses or prisms during diagnosis and treatment.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus in which the plate may be driven in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus in which the plate may be rotated at various rates of speed.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus which maybe manually adjusted by the patient.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a motor-driven apparatus which will be extremely quiet in operation.

A feature of the'invention resides in construcing the chart on the plate with a target eccentrically disposed relative to the axis of the plate and in providing means for illuminating the target apart from the remainder of the chart.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/ or described. I

In the drawings:

Fig. '1 is an elevational view of an apparatus used for orthoptic diagnosis and treatment and illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a portion of the structure shown therein, with the plate having the chart thereon removed from the instrument, said View being drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 3'is a plan sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2, the section line for this view being also indicated on Fig. 2.

r Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational View taken on line l-4 of Fig. 3 and drawn to the same scale. "The invention consists of a plate 20 having a chart 'lIl thereon, which plate is rotatably supported and driven by a transmission II partly cgr-itained "in a case I2. The case I2 is mounted on a standard I3 which is carried by a stand I4.

I The stand I l consists of three legs IE which have d'ica'ted at I53. The various zones on the plate 2 wall 22, a bottom wall '23 and side walls 24,-thel said case being open at the front. By means of this construction a compartment 29 is formed within the case. A plate 25 forms a closure for the open front of the case and is attached to'the walls 22, 23 and 24 by means of screws 25 which pass through said plate and are screwed into lugs 21 formed at the corners of the said top wall, bottom wall and side walls. The bottom wall '23 has formed on it a boss I I9 in which the standard I3 is received and by means of which the case I2 is supported.

The closure 2.5 has mounted on it a tubular bearing 3| which is provided with a flange .32 overlyingthe interior of the said closure and secured thereto by means of screws 33 which .ex-. tend through said flange and are screwedinto said closure. The bearing 3| rotatably supports a shaft .34 which has secured to its outermost end ahub 35. This hub engages the end of the bearing'fil and restrains axial movement of the shaft in one .direction. A pin 36 extending through said shaft at the other end restrains axial movement in the opposite direction. A wheel 31 is carried by the hub 35 and is provided with a web 3.6 and with a flange 40 extending outwardly therefrom. The plate 20 on which the chart is formed is in the shape of a disc which may be constructed of sheet metal or any other suitable material. The plate '20 on which the chart is formed is attached to the web 30 of wheel 31 by cementing the same thereto so that no screws or other fastening means are visible from the face of the chart. Printed or otherwise formed on the outer surface of the plate 20 is a colored zone I21 which extends across the plate substantially from one side to the other. Extending up to the zone I21 are other colored zones I28, I29 and I 3I which terminate at the outer periphery of the plate. At the one end of zone I21 is placed a target I32 which has a colored band I33 in the form of an annulus. This annulus may, if 'de-' sired, be raised from the surface of the d sc or the same may lie in the plane thereof. In the center of the target is provided a iewel I34 which is adapted to be illuminated bv means of an electric light bulb I5I placed in the back of the same, and shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This bulb is mounted in a socket I52 which is attached to the plate 28. The target I32 is mounted on a. mounting I53 which is detachably secured to plate '20 by means of a number of fasteners in- 20 and the target I32'constitute the chart I0.

For operating the apparatus, an electric motor The transmission ll includes an arm 45 10-.

cated within the compartment 29 and which is pivoted for swinging movement on a stud 46 secured to the closure of the case. This arm has secured to it a stub shaft 41 on which is rotatably mounted a sheave assembly 48. sheave assembly includes a sleeve 49 which has attached to the ends thereof beveled flanges5l and 52, the bevels of which face each other. Mounted between the said flanges and slidable longitudinally along the sleeve 49 is a conical member 53 having beveled surfaces facing the corresponding surfaces of the flanges 5i and 52. These surfaces provide two grooves 54 and 55 between the flange 5| and the member 53 and between said member and the flange'52. The member 53 is frictionally held in place upon the sleeve 49' by means of a spring pressed ball 60. A V- belt 56 is received in the groove 55 and passes over a sheave 5'! mounted on the end of the shaft 43 of motor 38. I 1 For rotating the chart ID, a countershaft 58 is employed. This countershaft has secured to it an offset sheave 59 by means of a screw 6! screwed into th'e'end of said shaft and urging the hub 62 ofsaid sheave against a shoulder 53 formed on said shaft. The shaft 58 is journaled in a bearing 64 received in a sleeve '65. The sleeve 65 is; in turn, mounted for swinging movement in a bearing 65 which is formed on the closure 25 andwhich extends inwardly therefrom. The sleeve 55 has attached to its innermost end a cup-shaped operating member 61. This member has secured to it an arm 68,'best shown in Fig. 4 and which projects outwardly from said member in the space between the closure 25 and th'e'sheav'e'59. When the arm 58 is moved in an up and down direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the sleeve 65 is moving about the axis of the shaft 58; The member 6'! is received within a cavity 69 formed in the interior of the sheave 59. A V-belt H passes over the sheave 59 and is received in the groove 54 in the sheave assembly 48. It will readily be comprehended that when the arm 45 is swung about the stud 45 as a pivot, that the sheave assembly 48 may be moved toward or from either of the shafts 43 or 58. This causes the conical member 53 to move toward or from either of the flanges 5| or 52 and to vary the'wi'dth of the grooves 54 and 55. This changes the speed of the countershaft 58. Thus the countershaft 58 may be driven at any desired speed within the range of the device by properly proportioning the arm 45.

The sleeve 65 has secured to the outer end of the same a plate 12 which projects'outwardly therefrom. Mounted on this plate are two studs. 13 and 14 which rotatably support two sheaves 15 and 16. Mounted on the end of the countershaft-58 is a sheave T! which has two grooves 18 and 79 therein. The sheave 1! abuts against a shoulder I I2 formed on the said shaft and is held attached to said shaft by means of a screw H3 similar to the screw 6|. The two sheaves 15 and 16 are arranged in staggered relation. The

This 2 sheave I5 is aligned with the groove 18 and the sheave is aligned with groove 19. Received in the grooves 13 and T9 are belts 8i and 82 which pass over the sheaves 15 and 16, respectively. The sheaves I5 and 16 have attached to them friction gears or rollers 83 and 84 which straddle the flange 4B of the wheel 31 which serves as a friction gear for coaction with the gears 83 and 34. When the sleeve 65 is swung in one direction about its axis through movement of the lever 58, the gear 83 engages the flange 40 on one side and drives the wheel 31 and shaft 34 in one direction. When the sleeve 55 is shifted in the opposite direction, the gear 83 is disengaged from the flange 4G and the gear 84 engages said flange upon the opposite surface thereof, driving the said wheel in the opposite direction. When both gears are clear of the flange, Wheel 31 stops.

Depending from the bottom wall 23 of case I2 is a tubular neck'lil. This neck is attached to a control box l5 accessible below the chart ID. A; passageway 28 in the neck I 8 brings the compartment 28 in case l2 into communication with the interior of the control box I5. I

The control box I5 is shown in detail in Fig. f and comprises a top wall 85, a bottom wall 86 and side walls 81, connected together by means of a back wall not shown. Thesaid walls are open at the front and are adapted to be closed by means of a cover 88 held attached to said box by means of screws 89 passing through said cover and threaded into bosses 9| formed in said box. The neck 18 previously referred to issues from the wall of said box. Journaledin bearings not shown but formed in the cover 88 are two shafts 92 and 93. These shafts have attached to their outer end knobs 95'and 94 respectively. The knob 94 has a pointer 96 which is adapted to register with marks 97 on the cover 88. Knob 95 is similarly provided with a pointer 98 which is adapted to register with marks 99 also disposed on the cover 88. The inner end of the shaft 92 has secured to it an eccentric llil which engages a yoke l! 52 mounted on a swinging arm I03. Arm 103 is pivoted on a stud I04 secured to the cover 88. When the knob 95 is rotated, arm I03 is moved in an up and down direction.

A rod 505 extends along the passageway 28 in neck I8 and into the interior of box I5 and the compartment 29 of case [2. The lower end of this rod passes through the outermost end of the arm 1 [33. Two collars I96 and I0! are secured to this rod on opposite sides of the arm Hi3 and fit loosely against said arm, so that the rod "35 may be moved in an up and down direction as the shaft 92 is rotated. The upper end of the rod IE5 is connected to a bracket I09 secured to arm 45 by means of screws III. It will thus become readily apparent that as the shaft 92 is turned, rod IE5 is reciprocated vertically and the arm 45 swung in a manner to vary the widths of the grooves 54 and 55 and to correspondingly vary the speed of the countershaft 58 The shaft 93 has attached to the innermost end of it a disc H4. This disc has pivoted to it a pintle H5 formed onan arm H6. The arm H6 extends outwarrllvfrom a rod II! which, similarly to the rod I05, extends through the passageway 28in neck l8 and into the compartment 29 within the ca e 12. The arm 68 in case l2 has attached to it by means of a screw H8 2. boss H9 and through which the rod I I1 loosely passes. Spacer collars IZI and I22 are secured to said rod on opposite sides of the boss H9.

accuses :Acompression coil spring .123 is seated at end against the collar 121,:rat the other :end against the boss Hi1. A similar spring 124 .is seated atone end against the collar 122 and at its other end against thehoss H9. The disc H4 serves as a crank, which operating on the pintle 1H5 reciprocates the rod Ill. .The said rod through the springs I23 and i 24, acts on the boss I19 and raises and lowers the lever 68. This swings the plate 72 which brings one or the other of .the rollers 83 or 84 into engagement-with the flange 40. Movement of the'shaft 93 is limited by meansof a pin 10.8 secured'to cover 88. This pin is adaptedto engage either 'of'two shoulders H formed on the disc 88.

For illuminating the jewel 1:34 on chart III, a brush i 35 is provided which is mounted in a brush holder 136 secured tothe cover plate 25 of case :12. This .brush is adapted to engage axslipring I31 mounted on the hub 35 of wheel 31. The brush 135 is connected toasource of low voltage 'for energizing the lamp and the slip-ring 131 is electrically connected by means of a conductor I54 to thelsocket 152, the return'for which is grounded through the plate .20, shaft 34 and the bearings of thetransmission. The conductor N54 is disposed between the wheel 3! and plate 20 and lies in a groove l55'form-ed in said wheel.

For illuminating the entire chart [Dyan elec- .tric bulb I38 is employed'which is supported by bracket 1 39' extending upwardly from, the upper wall '22 of the case l2. A reflector MI is supported-on said bracket and-directs the light downwardly upon the chart H1. The bracket 1-39 is constructed hollow and communicates with the compartment 29 withinthe case 12 where connections for current for operating-the .sa'id lamp .may be, provided.

The method of operation isreadily apparent.

The "patient is seated at a locality immediately in front of the apparatus with his ey 9500111713118 elevation of the chart. The practitioner then applies the proper lenses or prisms to the patient and starts the apparatus in operation. The patient in observing the moving chart exercises the'muscles of the eyes to correct the fault or weakness of the eyes. After the chart has been rotated for a time in one direction, the patient turns the knob 94 in the opposite direction and reverses'the direction of rotation of the chart. As

the treatment progresses, the speed of rotation of the chart may be readily varied by the patient or practitioner by merely turningrthe knob 95 one way orxthe other.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The device is extremely simple in construction and positive and effective in operation. By the use of the particular variable speed drive employed, changes speed of the chart may be procured with ease. The reversing mechanism operates in an extremely simpleand effective mannerand permits of the patient rapidly changing the direction of rotationof the chart without injuring the apparatus. Due to the arrangement of parts, the transmission between theoperatingHmo-tor and the chart is exceedingly quiet andreduction'of speed is procured-witha minimum number of'pamts. Most efthe apparatus may be contained within a suitable :case, where thesame is concealed and'protected. The operating membersiof the invention are located at :a convenient elevation for manipulation by the patient andprocure through concealed mechanism variation in direction of rotation and speed .oftheiehart.

.i-Changes- 1n the specific form ofrmy. invention, as herein described, may .be made within the scope :of what, is claimed without departing from the spirit .ofmy invention.

Having described my invention, what. I claim'as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Inan orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supportingsaid plate for rotation, a. flange issuing outwardly from said plate and concentric with the axis of'said pivot means, a swinging support, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said support and straddling saidflange, means for driving said rollers in the same direction of rotation and means for selectively bringing either of said rollers in engagementwith said flange.

. 2. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having :a chart thereon, pivot means for supporting said plate for rotation, an annular driven member having inner .and outer surfaces concentric with the axis of said pivot means, a movable support, spaced rollers rotatably mounted in said support and disposed with one roller adjacent one of said surfaces and the other roller adjacent the other of said surfaces, means for driving said rollers so as to cause the contacting surfaces thereof to travel in opposite directions and means for selectively bringing either of said rollers in engagement with the corresponding surface of said driven member.

3. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supporting :said plate for rotation, an annular driven member having inner and outer surfaces concentric with the axis of said pivot means, a swinging support, pivot means therefor, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said support and straddling said driven member, a rotatable transmission element rotatable about the axis of the pivot means for said support, means for driving said transmission element, driving means between said transmission element and said .rollers and causing rotational movement of said rollers in the same direction, and means for swinging said support about its pivot means to bring either of said rollers into engagement with said driven member.

4. In an orthoptic apparatus,a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supportingsaid plate for rotation, an annular driven member having inner and outer surfaces concentric with the axis of said pivot means, a swinging support, pivot means therefor, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said support and straddling said driven member, a rotatable transmission element rotatable about, the axis of the pivot means for said support, means for driving said transmission element, driving :means between said transmission element and said rollers and causing rotational movement of said rollers in thesame direction, means for swinging said support about its pivot means to bring either of saidrollers into engagernent with said driven member, and resilient 'means for holding either of said rollers in enelement, said transmission element includin two sheaves, sheaves rotatable with said rollers, belts passing over said first named sheaves and driving said second named sheaves and procuring rotation of said rollers in the samedirection and means for swinging said support about its pivot means to bring either of said rollers into engagement with said driven member.

6. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supporting said plate for rotation, an annular driven member having inner and outer surfaces concentric with the axis of said pivot means, a swinging support, pivot means therefor, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said support and straddling said driven member, a rotatable transmission element rotatable about th axis of the pivot means for the support, driving means between said transmission element and rollers, a sheave on said transmission element, an electric motor,.a sheave driven by said motor, a second support, means for guiding said second support for movement in a direction toward and from said sheaves, a sheave assembly ,rotatably inountedon said second support and comprisin two end flanges and a conical member disposed between said flanges and movable axially toward and from the same, said conical member forming with said flanges two sheaves varying in diameter upon the movement of the conical member from one flange to the other, a'belt between said transmission element sheave and one of the sheaves of said sheave assembly, a belt between said motor sheave and the other of the sheaves of said sheave assembly and means for shifting said second support to different positions to vary the speed of said transmission element.

. 7. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall, a plate having a chart thereon and disposed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said wall, a bearing carried by said wall, a, sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, a shaft extending through said sleeve and journaled for rotation therein, motive means within said case, driving means between said motive means and the inner end of said shaft, an operating member connected to the inner end of said sleeve and serving to rock said sleeve, a reversing drive between the outer end of the shaft and said plate for driving said plate in either direction and means connected to the outer end of said sleeve for operating said reversing drive.

8. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall, a plate having a chart thereon and disposed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said wall, a bearing carried by wall, a sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, a shaft extendingthrough said sleeve and journaled for rotation therein, motive means within said case, driving means between said motive means and the inner end of said shaft, a driven member rotatable with said plate, two driving members supported by said sleeve and disposed outwardly of said wall, means for driving said driving members from the outer end of said shaft, said driving members being movable upon rotary movement of said sieeve to selectively engage and drive said driven member in opposite directions and an operating member connected to the inner end of the sleeve and serving to bring either of said driving members into driving relation with said driven member.

9. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall,ig.platehavins a chart thereon and disposed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said wall, a, bearing carried by said wall, a sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, a shaft extending through said sleeve and journaled for'rotation therein, motive means within said case, driving means between said motive means and the inner end of said shaft, a flange extending outwardly from said plate and rotatable therewith, a support car ried by the outer end of said sleeve, two rollers supported for rotation by said support and straddling said flange, means for driving said rollers from the outer end of said shaft and means connected to the inner end of said sleeve for swinging said sleeve and support to bring either of said rollers into engagement with said flange.

10. 'In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall, a plate having a chart thereon and dis-' posed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said Wall, a bearing carriedby wall, a sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, a shaft extending through said sleeve and journaled for rotation therein, motive means within said case, driving means between said motive means and the irmer end of said shaft, a flange extending outwardly from said plate and rotatable therewith, a sup port carried by the outer end of said sleeve, two rollers supported for rotation by said support and straddling said flange, sheaves rotatable with said rollers, sheaves on the outer end of said shaft and driven thereby, belts passing about corresponding sheaves to simultaneously drive both of said rollers and means connected to the inner end of said sleeve for swinging said sleeve and support to bring either of said rollers into engagement with said flange.

11. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case, a plate having a chart thereon. carried by said case and mounted for rotation, motive means for rotating said plate and disposed within the case, a vari able speed transmission between said motive means and plate, a tubular neck depending from said case, a control box attached to said neck, operating means carried by said control box and means extending within said neck and connected to said operating means and transmission for regulating the speed of said plate.

12. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case, a plate having a chart thereon carried by said case and mounted for rotation, motive means for rotating said plate and disposed within the case, a reversible transmission between said motive means and plate, a tubular neck depending from said case, a control box attached to said neck, operating means carried by said control box and means extending within said neck and connected to said control means and transmission for changing the direction of rotation of said plate.

13. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall, a plate disposed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said wall, a bearing carried by said wall, a sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, an arm attached to said sleeve, a shaft extending through said sleeve and journaled for-rotation therein, motive means within said case,'driving means between said motive means and the inner end of said shaft, a reversing drive between theflouter end of said shaft, a reversing drive between the outer end of said shaft and said plate for driving said plate in either direction; and adapted to be actuated upon swinging of said sleeve, a tubular neck depending from said case; an operating member disposed at the lower end of said neck and a link disposed within said neck and connected to said operating member and arm and serving to rotate said sleeve and actuate said reversing drive for driving said plate in either direction.

14. In an orthoptic apparatus, a case having a wall, a plate disposed exteriorly of the case, pivot means for said plate carried by said wall, a bearing carried by said wall, a sleeve pivoted in said bearing and extending through said wall, a shaft extending through said sleeve and journaled for rotation therein, motive means within said case, a variable speed drive between said motive means and the inner end of said shaft, a drive between the outer end of said shaft and said plate and including a reversing mechanism, said reversing mechanism being operated upon swinging of said sleeve, a tubular neck depending from said case, two operating members disposed at the lower end of said neck, a link disposed within said neck and connected to one of said operating members and said variable speed drive and a second link disposed within said neck and connected to said second operating member and to said sleeve.

15. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supporting said plate for rotation, said chart comprising a configuration in the form of an E, a target mounted on said plate and located, in proximity to the base of said configuration, said target including a jewel located at the center of the same and illuminating means located in back of said jewel and traveling with side plate.

10 16. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chartthereon, pivot means for supporting said plate for rotation, said chart comprising a configuration in the form of an E, a target mounted on said plate and located in proximity to the base of said configuration, said target including a jewel located at the center of the same and an annular ring encircling said jewel and illuminating means located in back of said jewel and traveling With said plate.

17. In an orthoptic apparatus, a plate having a chart thereon, pivot means for supporting said plate for rotation, said chart comprising a configuration having a main bar and three other bars spaced from one another and extending angularly from said main bar and in the same direction, a circular target mounted on said plate and located on said main bar at one end thereof, said target including a jewel located at the center of the same and illuminating means located in back of said jewel and traveling with said plate.

THEODORE J. ARNESON, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

